Monitoring Run Load in Today’s Plan with Stryd RSS

4 April 2019

An advantage of Today’s Plan is how athletes and coaches can use the stress load algorithms of their choice, where other platforms only allow the use of their one universal value.

Run Power

If you are a runner who uses a Stryd running power meter, Today’s Plan allows you to use their RSS metric, (Running Stress Score), to calculate the load from a training run. This includes not only scoring the workout individually, but also when a runner builds and calculates their run CTL, ATL and TSB in a load chart.

Conversely, if you like the traditional Cycling T-score model for running available on many platforms, and you use a run power meter, you can select the Cycling T-score model as your method for calculating your running load.

Here’s an example of a moderate run workout, with run power data, and how it compares from the 2 different stress models.

Model #1 – Cycling T-score

Cycling T-score is based on the way cyclists and other platforms commonly generate T-scores, taking power data and duration from the workout, relative to threshold power of the athlete, to calculate the load. This shows a T-score of 60.

Model #2 – Running Stress Score, (RSS)

Running Stress Score from Stryd, is based on the run power data from the workout, and Stryd’s formula. You’ll notice the T-Score, (or in this case, the RSS), is higher than the Cycling T-score methodology, at 70.

Though these differences may seem small with this run, they differ by about 15% in scores, and this was a simple 33 minute run. These different stress models can show quite a difference with much more intense and longer run workouts.

For athletes looking at better ways to track load over time, the Stryd RSS values will reflect different values for CTL, ATL and TSB, so this becomes another model for coaches and athletes. However, consistency in the type of stress modeling used is important, as mixing the two models will affect these long term fitness modeling values.

There are numerous coaching styles and methods, focusing on different metrics and algorithms. Today’s Plan is a leader in the field of training and performance analytics, by allowing coaches and athletes to have multiple methods of measuring load to better prepare for and predict performance. Athletes and coaches can expect Today’s Plan to continue to bring new and advanced metrics and methodologies to help them achieve their goals.